Heater unit



Dec 24, 1940! l H. w. FM 2,225,985

HEATER UNIT Fim@ July 7, 3,959

3 Sheets-Shet I l y cf FILM/"f,

@y1/MM Dec. 24, 1940. H. w; FINK HEATER UNIT Filed July 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec, 24,1940. H w, FINK 2,225,985 7 HEATER UNIT Filed Y.July 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Figi f4 f5 l f4 Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES HEATER UNIT Henry W. Fink, Chicago, lll., asignar to Tropic- Aire, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 7, 1939, Serial No. 283,195

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in unit heaters and defrosters. The invention is embodied in an automobile heater adapted to be connected with the circulating fluid of the engine cooling system.

These heaters are ordinarily applied to the dash and inside of the drivers compartment, and various adjustments of the heater often have to be made to properly position certain air m delivery outlets in relation to the floor or to the windshield.

The present heater is adapted for furnishing heated air for the passengers, and also for furnishing heated air for defrosting the windshield.

15 For defrosnng the windshield, a conduit 1s used which is connected to the delivery opening of the heater and which delivers to the windshield. In making these'connections it is necessary, according to the particular installation, to have the defrosting delivery opening in some certain position. These heaters are also provided with openings which deliver air to the oor for warming the feet and the opening or openings for delivering this air also have to be adjusted.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a heater in which the aforesaid adjustments can be made after the heater is attached to the dash.

Another object of the invention is to provide air straighteners across which the fan blows air for delivery to the passenger compartment.

It is also an object of the invention to facilitate assemblyof the radiator structure and to provide a unitheater having two sections, one of which sections contains the radiator, and the other of which is detachably mounted on the section which contains the radiator, and which contains.

the motor and the fan.

Another object is to make the section which has the motor and fan adjustable on the section which has the radiator, and to provide this adinstable section with openings through which air is delivered axially to the passenger compartment and through which air is delivered radially, either to the windshield or to the floor, or to both. All

of the last-named,I elements, therefore, are circularly adjustable with reference to the radiator. Another object of the invention is to provide a grill arranged forwardly of the radiator in direction of delivery of air to the passenger compartment, this grill acting as a cover for the fan motor, which motor projects forwardly and outside of the adjustable section in a position remote from the radiator. Another object is to provide means by which (CL 23o-117) this grill may be rotatably adjusted to dispose its symmetrical and ornamental grill openings in some desired position which is most pleasing to the eye, it being understood that this adjustment follows that of the adjustment of that sec- 5. tion which carries the delivery openings.

Objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description of the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in said drawings: 1o

Figure 1 is a front view with heater with the grill in place and adjusted in symmetrical relation;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section on line 2-2 of Figure 4, showing the attaching and adjustl5 ing portions of the grill, and illustrating its manner of circular adjustment;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section on line 3--3 of Figure 4, looking toward the fan and the radiator, and taken through the openings respec- 20 tively for delivering heated air to the windshield and door; Y

Figure 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal, longitudinal section 25 taken on line55 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a detailed horizontal section taken on line S-B of Figure. 2 showing detail of the means by which the grill is adjusted and clamped in adjusted position, and showing part of the 30 means by which the second section is secured to the first section;

Figure 7 is a partial elevation of the inner face of the second section with the fan removed; and

Figure 8 is a detailed section on line 8 8 of 35 Figures 2 and 4, showing the relation of the fan to one of the air flow directing elements.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral i indicates the first casing section adapted to be placed next to the dash and attached to the dash. 40 This casing section has an air intake opening 2 in opposition to and bridging which is a rear face of a radiator l. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the area of the air flow portion of the radiator is about equal to the area of the opening, and 45- the opening in this instance is square.

Referring to Figure 3, the radiator has the usual manifolds ll. These manifolds are recessed as at 5 to receive the ends of a pipe brace later described. The radiator is arranged as shown 5.0 and has leading therefrom pipes B, 1 which pass through elongated slots in the rear face 8 of the casing section I, and are connected with the cooling system of the engine (not shown). A pipebrace and heater-attaching member 9 has legs 55 Il passing openings in the rear face 4 and secured in any suitable manner as by welding, to the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the first casing section I. These legs lie in the recesses l of the manifolds. The pipes I, 1, after being bent and re-bent as generally indicated at I2 in Figure 5, pass through this brace member in the manner shown. 'I'he radiator manifold has a nipple Il closed by a suitable removable cap. The radiator has nanges I4. and screws I5 secure them to the back wall l.

The forwardside of the first casing has therein a band Il projecting forwardly for the telescopic reception of the rear portion of a second casing section 2l. This second section is rotatable upon the first section about an axis which corresponds tothe axis of rotation of a fan later to be described. Covering the ,meeting line 2l between the meeting edges oi' the sections and providing finish is a split band 22 which laps or engages bothv easing sections and bridges the line 2l. Referring to Figure 4, each end of the band is held by means of a screw 23 which passes only through the nrst casing section I and the band 22.

Now referring to Figure 3 the second casing section 2l is provided with openings through which air is'radially delivered by a fan, later to be described. The opening 2l at the left of Figure 8 is adapted either to receive a conduitconnection by which air is led to the windshield, or air passing through the opening can be directed to the floor. The opening 2l in the casing section 2l communicates withga rectangular tubular structure applied to the cylindrical surface of the ser tion 2l. 'Ihis structure is generally indicated at 24, and in combination with the fan is a feature. The structure has a pivoted cover 21 having side flanges. The cover can be swung to any desired position, one such position being shown by dotted lines in the figure". The tubular structure 2t rises from a base plate 24 having an opening 2l therein in resister with opening 25. 'I'he base plate has a finger extension 3| which passes through an opening II in the section- 2l. At the opposite end of the base plate 24 a screw 22 secures the same. The structure 24 is therefore easily removed. The cover 21 can be removed and the receiving end of a defrosting conduit (not shown) can be attached by means of the openings Il for the pivot 34 and by`means of openings Il provided for that'purpose.J

A series of partitions 34 are arranged in the lboxing as best shown in lFigure 3, the inner ends of eachpartition being Acurved as shown at I1. Some of the partitions project into the section 2 and the concavefaces of the partitions face in the direction of approach of the on-coming blades ofthe fan. This is a feature. The section 2l is also provided with a series of openings 3l forming a kind of grill through which air is forced downwardly to the feet of a passenger. The structure "and its cover 21 can also be used for directing air toward the drivers feet.

A feature of the invention above described is that of making the section 2l adjustable on the element I so that the openings or 34 may be adjusted to any desired position. Another feature is the mounting of the motor and fan on the element 2l so that this assembly can easily be placed upon the section I. This scheme provides a very desirable assembly construction. It will be seen that the motor and fan are mounted in the element 2l, the radiator is mounted in the element I. Elements land 2U can be assembled and held in any desired angularly adjusted relation by means now to be described.

.The forward part of the section 2l has an air delivery opening 44, and since this opening is of smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the section 2l, an annular flange 4I is formed. well shown in Figures 2 and 4. This flange is provided with a row of circumferentially spaced openings 42 kwhich function to receive diametrically disposed screw posts 4I which are connected with section I, by means of straps including parts Il, 4I, said straps being attached as at 1l to section I. These parts 43 serve a dual purpose, described and claimed.

The fan is generally indicated atl 4I and the motor is indicated at 4l. The motor is detachably mounted on a plate 41 and this plate is centered in the opening 4l and is connected to the flange 4I by means of air flow directing elements 4I, in this instance six in number. Each air director or straightener is formed by bending a fiat piece of metal, as best shown in Figures 2 and 8, to provide a central. radially related portion Il whose faces of greatest area lie in a piane which is angularly related to the plane of the front face of the section 2l. The inclination of these faces (see Figure 8) is about the same as that of the inclination of the fan blades so that when the blades are in opposition to the deiiectors or straighteners the surfaces of greatest area of the defiectors and the surfaces of greatest area ofthefan blades are substantially co-planar. It will. of course, be understood that while this relation is claimed, the invention is not entirely limited thereto because the air now directing members may assume other angles and relations. Each straightener element is provided with two extensions II, one of which lies at the inside of the flange 4I and the other of which lies inside of the motor support 41. The flanges are suitably secured as by welding. The air flow elements may be formed of one piece with the section 2l.

It will be noted that the motor extends forwardly beyond the forward or front face of the section, and that the fan operates within a plenum chamber I2 formed between the flange 4I, the forward face of the radiator, and the cylindrical wall of the section 2l. 'Ihe fan in this instance has six blades corresponding to the number of air ilow directing elements 4I. The fan has a dual function. It forces air axially through the opening 4l for delivery to the passengers and also forces air radially through the openings" and Il, for windshield and floor h'eatlha. .4 V

It'willvlnowrbe seen that the casing element ..canbe' -rotativelyadjusted and held at any adjusted position `by means of the posts 4I traversing openingsf'. The openings 25 and 3l are correspondingly adjusted. Another feature is that the elements for the casing sections I and 2l are easily assembled therein from the fully open side of each section, and then after this assembly the elements I and 20 are brought together and secured. When the installation is made on the car the section 20 can be separated and then rotated to bring the discharge openings 28 and/or 38 to the desired position, after which the posts 43 are registered with theproper openings 42 and secured, as shown in Figure 6.

Another feature of theinvention relates to the arrangement of the motor forwardly and outside of the casing 20, and to the provision of an ornamental grill for covering the. moton'fgthists grill providing openings for the delivery of heated air to the passengers and also acting as an ornamental finishing device for the front of the heater. The grill openings have a symmetrical ornamental pattern, the elements of. which, in order to give the most pleasing effect, must assume a,r predetermined relation, for which adjustment is made after the adjustment of section 20 and section I.

Referring to Figure 1, the grill is indicated at 60 and in this instance is provided with 'three radial groups of slots 6I symmetrically placed in the manner shown. Between these groups are Aist j, co

.ci culation of air to and around the; motor. j Thus arranged three series of circumferential slots, these slots being indicated at 62.

Referring to Figures 2, 5 and 6, and particularly to Figures 2 and 6. 'I'he grill 60 is provided interiorly with a pair of arcuate members,65 suitably secured thereto by flanges 66 which may be secured by spot-welding. Each arcuate member is provided with an arcuate slot 61 through which passes one of the posts 43. The post 43 also passes through an opening 42 of the flange 4I, and through one bent end 68 of a strap (see Figure 5), the other terminal, 69 of which strap extends through the section 2U and into section I where it is attached as at 1|! to said section I. Suitable cylindrical nuts 12 engage the threaded post 43. The nuts 'I2 are lmurled. Each also has a screw driver slot 13 by which it can be forced into clamping position. A nut 14 secures the post 43, the head 15 of said post screw being drawn against the strap portion 68, and both being drawnby the nut 1 4 against the flange 4I. In this embodiment two diametrically related openings 42 receive the correspondingly related posts 43, and by this means the openings 25 and 35 may be brought to and held in any desired angular position.

In order that the grill may be removed the slots 61 are keyhole slots having an'enlarged terminal circular portion 16 of suchv diameter that the cylindrical nut 12 will pass therethrough to allow removal of the ,grill. In assembly the circular slots 16 are registered with the nuts 12 and then the grill is pushed inwardly until the flange 66 passes the inner end of the cylindrical nuts 12, and until the flange engages the outer face of the nut 14, after which the grill is rotated to any desired position to bring its pattern, whatever symmetrical pattern may be used, into a xsymmetrical position which will be pleasing tol the observer (see Figures 1 and). Y The circumferential row-ofc nings 42 represent only one means of ning the' second casing section 20 in any position,` it` being noted that the screwsqfi-stems 42 are two. in number anddiametrlcally related to the axis of rotation ofgthe casing section' 20, and also in this instance to the axis of rotation of the' fan. It is conceived that lother means-.may Abe used for securing the caslngs togetherafter ad-A l iustment, so that while the detailed construction is claimed,y the inventlon'il aisomore-fbroadly claimed. Y 1;., Another feature of this inventionVV relates to the arrangementjotthe motor projectingforwardlyiand voutside the yfront of theV main l 'j Y .a position to ,cool-moreA quickly when the an is A stopped afterfa period of `Ause. Associated with this featureis the feature of the grill 60, or its equivalent, attached to the casing and surrounding the motor, the grillA Y being of an ornamental nature but allowing free the'motor is taken out of the main casing and placed in such position as not to be submitted to direct heat of the heater, and where it is in free communication with the air of the vehicle so that its heat may be more quickly dissipated. Referring to Figure 3, another feature of the invention relates to the use of the partition elements 36 arranged to form a series of passages communicating with the plenum chamber, with the partitions curved in the particular direction shown, in relation to the fan blades. The fan normally rotates in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 and forces the air outwardly in an axial direction through the opening 40 and openings in the grill, and also forces air from the plenum chamber in a radial direction. It has been found in practice that the use of the partltion elements 32 with their ends curved as shown obtains a better delivery through the boxing 26. It is noted that the top partition is longer than the others and that it projects into the plenum chamber. The next lower partition also projects into the plenum chamber, but the lowest and shortest partition does not so project.

The above described invention provides a 25 number of valuable features. The radial discharge openings of the heater can be circularly or angularly adjusted to any angular position, after the heater has been attached t6 the dash, so that these openings will assume any desired 30 relation to a conduit leading to the windshield, or to the iioor of the vehicle. 'I'he placement of the motor outside of the main casing has the advantage that the motor can more quickly dissipate its heat, than when it is enclosed in the same casing with the radiator. By providing means for circularly or angularly adjusting the grid, its ornamental design can be made to occupy its most pleasing position from the standpoint of symmetry. There is an advantage in 40 utilizing air flow directing members for securing the motor. There is considerable advantage in manufacture, inbeing able to assemble the parts by free introduction into the fully open end or side of a casing as ls possible herein, in regard to the motor, air ilow directing members and fan. On the other hand, the radiator is assembled from the open end of the other casing section I, and after both assemblies have been independently made, the final assembly of the two casings is made. Another advantage is the'utilization of fastening devices which hold the two casing sections together as part of the means for holding the grill in adJusted position. Another advantage is that given by the I arrangement of the bailles and passages in the radially disposed airgdelivery opening so that the relatively feepeller type is substantially increased. .Another advantage is that the openings for the pivot of m the cover for the tubular delivery member through which the fan delivers air radially can, with the other openings, be utilized for the attachment of ya coupling through which air can. be delivered tothe windshield. Another advantage ls the simple manner of assembling the radiatonby placing its rear face in substantially `co-planarV relation of the rear face of the rear casing section I. Another advantage ,herein vgained is compactness in direction from front to back of the heater.

I claim as my invention: Y

l. A unit comprising, a rstzcasing section, a second casing section adjustably rotatable on the first section, and having two del' yyopenings, 75

one axially and the other radially disposed. said second section having openings circumferentially disposed in relation to its axis of rotation, said sections having means adapted to pass through some of said openings to secure said second section in any one of a plurality of positions against rotation, a fan for simultaneously forcing air through both delivery openings of said second section, a motor operating the fan, and baiiiing means, including elements supportingly connected with the motor and with said second section and acting on air forced by said fan for passage through said axially disposed delivery opening.

2. A unit comprising a casing, a fan and mo tor in the casing, means forming a plenum chamber in said casing and in which said fan is disposed, an air discharge opening in said casing radially related to the fan and communicating with said plenum chamber and into which said fan forces the air, and a series of partitions within said opening defining a series of delivery passages also communicating with the plenum chamber. a

3. A unit comprising a casing, a fan and motor in the casing, means forming a plenum chamber in said casing and in which said fan is dis posed, an air discharge opening in said casing radially related to the fan and communicating with said plenum chamber and into which said fan forces the air, a series of partitions within said opening defining a series of discharge passages also communicating with the plenum chamber, certain lof said partitions projecting into said plenum chamber and having concave faces which are faced in the direction of approach of the blades of the fan as it rotates.

4. A unit having a casing having an air delivery opening, a fan within the casing adapted to force air through said opening, a motor for the ian and air flow directing members disposed in the path of delivery of the forced air and supportingly connected by their inner ends to a plate which lies in the opening, and by their outer ends to the casing at the opening, one end of the motor being detachably secured to the outer face of the plate.

5. A device oi' the class described comprising, three casing elements, one a main casing adapted to be immovably attached to a support, a second casing rotatable on the main casing and providing a plenum chamber, a third casing rotatable on the second casing and constituting a grill, said main and second casings having alined openings through which air may be forced, air forcing means in the second casing for discharging air from a radial discharge opening of the second casing, and means including superposed openings in the second and third casings by which the second casing can be rotatably adjusted and held at different positions on the main casing, and by which the grill can be rotatably adjusted and held at diiferent positions on the second casing.

6. In a device oi' the class described, ilrst and second casings, the second casing having a radial discharge opening, a fan in said second casing for forcing air through said opening, securing openings on the second casing, projections on the first casing entering said openings whereby the second casing can be 'rotatably adjusted on the first and held in any one of a plurality of positions, a grill having arcuate slotted portions which said projections also enter, and means cooperable with the projections for securing said second casing to the first casing and for securing said grill to the second casing, said arcuate slots permitting the grill to be rotatably adjusted about said projections.

7. In a device of the class described, first and second casings, the second casing having a radial discharge opening, a fan in said second casing for forcing air through said opening, securing openings on the second casing, projections on the first casing entering said openings whereby the second casing can be rotatably adjusted and held in any one of a plurality of positions, a grill having openings which said projections also enter, and means cooperable with the projections for securing said second casing to the first casing and for securing said grill to the second casing.

8. A unit comprising, first and second sections, the second rotatably adjustable on the rst, said second section having two delivery openings, one axially and the other radially disposed, a fan adapted to force air through both openings, a grill rotatably adjustable on the second casing and through which said air is axially delivered, and means in part common to said second section and said grill attaching said second section to the first section and attaching said grill to said second casing so that each may be rotatably adjusted conformably to the adjustment oi the other, and so that both may be adjusted with vreference to the firstsection.

9. In a unit, a first casing section, a second casing section adjustably rotatable on the first casing, said second section having discharge openings, one radial and one axial and also having a series of openings by which to adjustably secure the second in relation to the first section, said second section having rigid projections adapted to pass through some of said series of openings to secure the second section in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions, said second section having thereon means for forcing air through said discharge openings, an ornamental grill of symmetrical configuration attached to said second casing and through which airfrom the axial opening is discharged, and means by which the grill is rotatably adjusted, including slots traversed by the projections of the first casing section.

10. A unit comprising first and second casing sections, the second casing section rotatable on the first and having a radial discharge opening, a grill rotatable on the second casing section and means by which the second section and the grill can be independently rotatably adjusted and secured at any one of a plurality of adjusted positions, including projections on the first section which pass throughopenings respectively in the second casing and grill, and air propelling means adapted to deliver air through said discharge opening.

1l. A unit comprising a casing having a fan therein, said casing having an end wall having opening through which the fan delivers air in an axial direction, a motor mounting plate disposed in the plane of the opening, a fan-operating motor having one end detachably secured to said plate, and extending outwardly beyond the wall and opening in an axial direction, and air flow directing members having their outer ends attached to the casing and having their inner ends secured to said plate.

12. In a device of the class described, first and second casings, openings in the second casing, projections on the first casing entering said openings so that the second casing can be rotatably adjusted and held inany one o1' a plurality of positions, a third casing having openings which said projections also enter to allow said third casing to be rotatably adjustable on the second casing and held at any one of a plurality of positions, and means cooperable with the projections after passage through said openings and adapted to releasably secure said second casing to the rst casing and said third casing to said second casing, both against rotative and axial motions.

13. A unit comprising a rst casing, a second casing rotatable on the ilrst casing and a third casing rotatable on the second casing, means secured to the rst casing and having portions traversing openings respectively in the second and third casings, said openings being oooperable with said portions in a manner to permit a plurality of rotatable adjustments of the second casing on the first, and of the third casing on the second, and means releasably cooperating with each of said portions and with said second and third casings tovsecure the third to the second casing and to secure the second to the first casing against motions both rotatively and in the direction of the rotative .axes oi the casings. said last mentioned means when successively properly released permitting either successive removal of the third from the second casing and of the second from the first casing, or successive rotative adjustments of the casings in the same order.

14. A unit comprising a first casing, a second casing rotatable on the rstyvc'asing, and a third casing rotatable on the second casing, means secured tothe iirst casing and having portions traversing openings respectively in the second and third casings, said openings being cooperable with said portions in a manner to permit a plurality of rotatable adjustments of the second casing on the nrst, and of the third casing on the second,

and means releasably cooperating with each of,

15. In a device of the class described, a ilrst l casing, a second casing having a telescopic ilt with the first casing and rotatably adjustable thereon, a pair of straps as part of and secured. y within and extending beyond the rst casing and,

into the second casing and having terminal projections; openings in the second casing arranged -to be received by said projections to hold the second casing in any one of a plurality of rotatably adjusted positions. and means releasably cooperating with said projections after the samex havepassed through the openings, to secure said second casing in an adjusted position and against movement'in an axial direction whereby to hold said casings in telescopic relation.

HENRY W. HNK. 

